Sofia

Average voter activity in the run-off vote of Bulgaria's local elections was about 21.17% as of 13:00 EET on Sunday, election authorities have said.

This marks a sharp rise with the 8.7% nationally as of 10:00 EET, election authorities have said.

Dozens of violation claims have been submitted to authorities by 10 EET on Sunday morning as a second round of local elections is being held, the Interior Ministry has said. `

Separately, the main ruling GERB party has reported seven breaches of election law, three of them in Sofia.

Bulgaria is honouring on Sunday all the people who helped develop and preserve its culture and pass it on to other generations, along with those who fought for its liberty under Ottoman rule.

Bulgaria has celebrated on November 1 since 1909, but banned festivities under Communism to renew them in 1992.

A run-off vote of Bulgaria's local elections is being held in 1128 villages, towns and cities across the country on Sunday.

In 970 of them voters are picking mayor, while others are to elect district or municipal mayors.

Special effects and lights will illuminate the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia at 19:15 EET on Saturday evening.

The facade will be illuminated in different colours, bringing the iconic building to life and turning it into a true attraction for the inhabitants and visitors of the capital.

The chair of Sofia's Municipal Election Commission has stepped down at the request of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, his GERB party has announced.

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev has extended his apology to hundreds of people who were locked up in a Sofia sports hall for more than 50 hours after local elections and a referendum held Sunday.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev unveiled an exhibition of works of art by Pablo Picasso at the National Art Gallery in Sofia on Thursday.

The exhibition entitled "Picasso: the eternal quest" features more than 70 original works of art, which have been specially selected from the Birthplace Museum of the Spanish painter in Malaga.

With 75 % of the ballot papers processed, it seems that Bulgaria's main ruling party, GERB, will lose the majority it has enjoyed in the municipal council of Sofia.

Prior to the local elections, which were held in Bulgaria on Sunday, GERB had 33 out of 61 municipal councillors in the capital.

The two parties constituting Bulgaria's ruling coalition demanded the resignation of the Central Election Commission (CIK) over the ballot processing chaos, which has ensued after the local elections held on Sunday.